Evaluation of the CAM6 Climate Model Using Cloud Observations at McMurdo Station, Antarctica
Abstract
A comparative analysis between observational data from McMurdo Station, Antarctica and the Community Atmosphere Model version 6 (CAM6) simulation is performed focusing on cloud characteristics and their thermodynamic conditions. Ka-band Zenith Radar (KAZR) and High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) retrievals are used as the basis of cloud fraction and cloud phase identifications. Radiosondes released at 12-h increments provide atmospheric profiles for evaluating the simulated thermodynamic conditions. Our findings show that the CAM6 simulation consistently overestimates (underestimates) cloud fraction above (below) 3 km in four seasons of a year. Normalized by total in-cloud samples, ice and mixed phase occurrence frequencies are underestimated and liquid phase frequency is overestimated by the model at cloud fractions above 0.6, while at cloud fractions below 0.6 ice phase frequency is overestimated and liquid-containing phase frequency is underestimated by the model. The cloud fraction biases are closely associated with concurrent biases in relative humidity (RH), that is, high (low) RH biases above (below) 2 km. Frequencies of correctly simulating ice and liquid-containing phase increase when the absolute biases of RH decrease. Cloud fraction biases also show a positive correlation with RH biases. Water vapor mixing ratio biases are the primary contributor to RH biases, and hence,more »
- Authors:
-
- San Jose State Univ., CA (United States)
- Pennsylvania State Univ., University Park, PA (United States)
- National Center for Atmospheric Research, Boulder, CO (United States)
- Publication Date:
- Research Org.:
- Oak Ridge National Lab. (ORNL), Oak Ridge, TN (United States). Atmospheric Radiation Measurement (ARM) Data Center; San Jose State Univ., CA (United States)
- Sponsoring Org.:
- USDOE Office of Science (SC), Biological and Environmental Research (BER)
- Contributing Org.:
- Pacific Northwest National Lab. (PNNL); Brookhaven National Lab. (BNL); Argonne National Lab. (ANL)
- OSTI Identifier:
- 1812370
- Alternate Identifier(s):
- OSTI ID: 1814219; OSTI ID: 1814508
- Grant/Contract Number:
- SC0017981; SC0021211; DE‐SC0021211; DE‐SC0017981
- Resource Type:
- Accepted Manuscript
- Journal Name:
- Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres
- Additional Journal Information:
- Journal Volume: 126; Journal Issue: 16; Journal ID: ISSN 2169-897X
- Publisher:
- American Geophysical Union
- Country of Publication:
- United States
- Language:
- English
- Subject:
- 54 ENVIRONMENTAL SCIENCES
Citation Formats
Yip, Jackson, Diao, Minghui, Barone, Tyler, Silber, Israel, and Gettelman, Andrew. Evaluation of the CAM6 Climate Model Using Cloud Observations at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. United States: N. p., 2021.
Web. doi:10.1029/2021jd034653.
Yip, Jackson, Diao, Minghui, Barone, Tyler, Silber, Israel, & Gettelman, Andrew. Evaluation of the CAM6 Climate Model Using Cloud Observations at McMurdo Station, Antarctica. United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021jd034653
Yip, Jackson, Diao, Minghui, Barone, Tyler, Silber, Israel, and Gettelman, Andrew. Tue .
"Evaluation of the CAM6 Climate Model Using Cloud Observations at McMurdo Station, Antarctica". United States. https://doi.org/10.1029/2021jd034653. https://www.osti.gov/servlets/purl/1812370.
@article{osti_1812370,
title = {Evaluation of the CAM6 Climate Model Using Cloud Observations at McMurdo Station, Antarctica},
author = {Yip, Jackson and Diao, Minghui and Barone, Tyler and Silber, Israel and Gettelman, Andrew},
abstractNote = {A comparative analysis between observational data from McMurdo Station, Antarctica and the Community Atmosphere Model version 6 (CAM6) simulation is performed focusing on cloud characteristics and their thermodynamic conditions. Ka-band Zenith Radar (KAZR) and High Spectral Resolution Lidar (HSRL) retrievals are used as the basis of cloud fraction and cloud phase identifications. Radiosondes released at 12-h increments provide atmospheric profiles for evaluating the simulated thermodynamic conditions. Our findings show that the CAM6 simulation consistently overestimates (underestimates) cloud fraction above (below) 3 km in four seasons of a year. Normalized by total in-cloud samples, ice and mixed phase occurrence frequencies are underestimated and liquid phase frequency is overestimated by the model at cloud fractions above 0.6, while at cloud fractions below 0.6 ice phase frequency is overestimated and liquid-containing phase frequency is underestimated by the model. The cloud fraction biases are closely associated with concurrent biases in relative humidity (RH), that is, high (low) RH biases above (below) 2 km. Frequencies of correctly simulating ice and liquid-containing phase increase when the absolute biases of RH decrease. Cloud fraction biases also show a positive correlation with RH biases. Water vapor mixing ratio biases are the primary contributor to RH biases, and hence, likely a key factor controlling the cloud biases. This diagnosis of the evident shortfalls of representations of cloud characteristics in CAM6 simulation at McMurdo Station brings new insight in improving the governing model physics therein.},
doi = {10.1029/2021jd034653},
journal = {Journal of Geophysical Research: Atmospheres},
number = 16,
volume = 126,
place = {United States},
year = {Tue Aug 03 00:00:00 EDT 2021},
month = {Tue Aug 03 00:00:00 EDT 2021}
}
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